Bible Question: Do baptist believe that suicide is an unforgivable sin, even if you are saved? |
Bible Answer: The question of whether suicide is an unforgivable sin to the truly regenerate believer hinges on whether the doctrine of the eternal security of the believer is sound. Concerning his salvation, it does not matter how an unregenerate person dies; if he dies in his sins he faces sure condemnation. If a regenerated believer is capable of sinning (and the Bible through precept and example teaches that he is), there is no earthly reason to think that he who is capable of killing his brother is incapable of doing the same thing to himself. I have never known, nor I have I ever been exposed to a description in the Scriptures, of any child of God whose life on earth was one of uninterrputed sweetness and light. Followers of Christ are not perfect; they are not immune to the troubles that all flesh is heir to; they are not, through spiritual regeneration, rendered incapable of committing sin. The taking of one's life is murder; it is a sin, but it is no more unforgivable than any other sin. When a penitent sinner comes to Christ, he is forgiven of all sin and born anew -- regenerated and sealed by the Holy Spirit of God for the day of redemption (Eph. 4:30; Eph. 1:13; 1 Cor. 1:22). How "sure and steadfast" (see Hebrews 6:19) is the believer's hope whose salvation is so irresolute that it hangs on whether the believer can confess fast enough to keep ahead of his sins? Does confession save him? ...... To teach that the regenerate believer is incapable of suicide is tantamount to teaching that he is incapable of all sin, and that is not a biblical doctrine. And to teach that a regenerate believer has no forgiveness for his suicide is tantamount to teaching that the blood of Christ is insufficient to cleanse him from all sin (See 1 John 1:7) --Hank |